North Korea's Ballistic Missile Tests Threaten Global Stability

North Korea test-fired a possible intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday, demonstrating the potential to reach anywhere in the United States, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. The missile flew at a highly lofted trajectory for about 73 minutes, reaching an altitude of 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) and a distance of about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) before falling into the sea west of Hokkaido, Japan. While North Korea's missile program is making progress, experts caution that the country has yet to prove the ability of the warhead to survive reentry into the atmosphere or its accuracy over longer distances.